Preferred landing method: net-swing-lip?

This time last year I lost so many big black crappie at the boat it drove me nuts. Seemed like just before I could get the net under one the jig would come out and another good fish would wave goodbye with its tail. I was fishing with 6 lb Viscous mono so was a little nervous about swinging them in but now I wonder if I would have been better off. I've also straightened a few hooks just enuf to let them off so I know I'm doing something wrong here. I lose very few vertical jigging but when I cast and drag I bet I lose one out of every 3-4 good fish. I need to devise a new strategy before I get back on the water next February. How do you guys land a fish that runs 1.5 lbs or so? I know there's a lot of variables here but maybe you can teach me something I need to know. Thanks!

CC I always swing them in the boat. Only time a net is on the boat is if we are silly enough to be fishing a tournament. I do use braid exclusively. I think when you get back, you need to try the other kind of weed/brush guards and your problem will be in the past!!

Hook set is #1. You have downsized your tackle and you still have to set the hook. #2 is no small hooks....hate small hooks. I will never tie on a jig that has a smaller hook than a #2. Throw all the smaller jigs with small hooks into deep water. #3 is use a net or lip all bigger fish over 2lb. An Ego Net with telescoping handle works great and will extend long enough for spider rigging as well.......George jerk man you will not break your rod and throw those baby hooks away. Lol. ......Ranger

I figured I would get some hook set counsel- lol- but my hook set is already so violent that it rocks the boat enuf to throw small children and skinny men overboard! But the small hook advice is golden and I will implement it ASAP. I look forward to netting all fish over 2 lbs which has not been a problem at all so far for reasons to obvious and embarrassing to mention. I always cast and drag with a stick guard covering my hook point and that's when I lose fish at the boat. I hate to admit it but most often it looks like a slab will just open his mouth and maybe he was never really hooked at all despite my awesome hookset. I have been reading about the Timmy Tom type weed guards and have looked forward to trying them out as they sure look easier to use. Is that the "other kind of weed/brush guards" that you are referring to Redge? Thanks for the help guys. If studying the art helps I should be an amazing crappie catcher when I get home!

Yes CC the Timmy Tom version. You do remember what it looks like when Mark sets the hook don't you?! Enough said!

Yes CC the Timmy Tom version. You do remember what it looks like when Mark sets the hook don't you?! Enough said![/QUOTE]

I spent more time watching Mark than my own line. I was always afraid that his next hook set might take my ear off!

He put the fish in the boat though didn't he!! You gotta pay attention, watching your line is the #1 rule! LOL

I was always surprised that his hook set alone didn't swing them into the boat but yeah, Mark has kinda figured it out which is a massive understatement!

I have not witnessed the proper Ranger hook set, but I've been told if it's 1 lb. or less "DUCK" or take a baseball glove with you and catch it on the fly. LOL

what does this silly question mean to you CC. When you are with me, you count it on the clicker whether it hits the deck or not. "They all count one" is what you tell me. thats why i bring MY own clicker.

I'm a swinger.

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Originally Posted by fishn_a_ledge

what does this silly question mean to you CC. When you are with me, you count it on the clicker whether it hits the deck or not. "They all count one" is what you tell me. thats why i bring MY own clicker.

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And that hay bale counter is easily the coolest clicker on the water TC. You make a good point when you quote the late great crappie hound and TV star Joe Krieger who said often as he swung in another dink " they all count one Wanda". In Mr. Krieger's memory it's true I do click every crappie that makes it to the surface but as you have photographically documented on this very site- when things get really slow sometimes I like to goof around in the live well verifying with actual measuring devices some of those "2 pounders" you casually toss in the hot tub- thus my interest in actually boating more of the few good fish I manage to snag. Plus I'm just curious where people weigh in on this controversial subject. Since the deck of The Ark is 10' off the water I'm gonna put you down as a " swinger". (-;

you should have seen me fishing in Fishers boat at the Eufala tourny! I dont know how many fish I swung from the front of the boat and they went out the back! I thought i had more runway to land them. Nope, right on out the back they went, unharmed, and only viewed in the air. I bet i did 4-5 that day!
In my boat, once the swing starts, the goal is just to get inside the boat. Then I can deal with keepers and culls.
Only John Deere counters for me!

I'm new at fishing by boat and since having a boat I have swung them in. I quickly realized after fishing Gaines Creek 3 weeks ago that I needed a net. I got caught in a situation where I landed a big fish but the bottom jig got hung up. The fish sat there and flopped on top of the water while I tried to free the bottom jig. Ended up losing everything. Wished I would have had a net so I could have at least had a net under that slab while I freed or cut the bottom jig. I will continue to swing them in but have a net on stand by.

"Thought I had more runway to land them" I will put this one in my little journal of classic Ledge quotes right next to " Thought you said these jalapeños were sweet"! When the mission gets a little tough I just pull out this journal and put a smile right back on my face- keep em coming TC........thanks for weighing in Dr: I did that same dance last year with my biggest Oologah slab ever- with a happier ending in cornmeal. It's early but I'm sensing that the Swingers may run away with this one- remember we are talking about big fish here, over 11/2 lbs..

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Originally Posted by fishn_a_ledge

you should have seen me fishing in Fishers boat at the Eufala tourny! I dont know how many fish I swung from the front of the boat and they went out the back! I thought i had more runway to land them. Nope, right on out the back they went, unharmed, and only viewed in the air. I bet i did 4-5 that day!
In my boat, once the swing starts, the goal is just to get inside the boat. Then I can deal with keepers and culls.
Only John Deere counters for me!

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Ledge lost some nice fish like that that day. Between his flying fish and the two that I accidentally left in the live well, which by the way you dont find out about until your boat has been in the hot garage for 2 days, we would have placed much better. Sorry Ledge, but I figure enough time has passed now that I can be forthright about my failure to see all the fish in the live well that day. In my defense tho, the Big E was living up to its other monicker that day, the Big muddE.

Many more of these and my journal will become a book Fishers. Hope Ledge honors the statute of limitations on the lost tourney fish since it just kind of evened out with his lost flyers! Since both of you are in need of a new partner now I will throw my hat in the ring. I should be pretty salty, having forgotten all my bad habits with this 18 month sabbatical from fishing.

Bring it on!

Hay hook

Now Craig you know you could land your biggest slabs with a bent sewing needle! Glad to see you are still around tho. You been awful quiet lately- are you hiding a new honey hole?

Work work work work no money work work work pay bills work work work no fishin work work sleep work work work

I believe I am starting to see a subtle pattern here involving the opposite of fishing- bummer. You have the survivors approach to self employment tho. You gotta hit it hard while it's there because the phone may not ring next week.